Lots of dream awareness ... but not quite there yet

[higgins]

For 2 months now I have kept a journal almost every night. My dreams and recall are getting much more detailed and are even bleeding into my waking consciousness. This has been an amazing experience. I have a few questions: 1) Might I be correct in assuming that waking and dreaming consciousness are the same process? Meaning that they are both "dreaming" so to speak? Only waking consciousness has physical laws and continuity whereas "dreaming" has different laws? 2) I have been having some strange experiences with attaining lucidity. For instance, I will recognize the dreamsigns, then do a reality check. I usually look for print, but oftentimes it is consistent and doesn't change on a second glance. So the reality check passes. But sometimes it doesn't pass but then nothing else really happens. I am in the dream and I say to myself "I think I'm dreaming" - but I feel like I'm missing a step here. Things just continue as they are and I'm not completely feeling lucid. This is happening now a few times per week. It's almost like I'm only dreaming that I'm lucid. For instance, this morning I had a FA. I awoke and I looked at the time and it was 11am. But it was almost dark out. I went out into the street in my pajamas and lots of people were out. The darkness made me think "OK, I haven't really woken up.. this must be a dream". I looked at a sign with print on it and it stayed the same after glancing back at it. Still thinking "this must be a dream". But the lucidity doesn't ever really hit me. It's like I accept that it's a dream and then it's over. The other day I also had a double FA. During the second FA, I was explaining to someone that I already had an FA and this was just another one! I looked at my hands but they seemed OK - not blurry as they have in other reality checks. Even though I was explaining to someone that I was in the middle of an FA, I still didn't attain lucidity. It's strange, I can't explain it... Am I only dreaming that I am lucid dreaming? Is this fairly common? I feel that with the amount of opportunities I have been given over the past 30 days or so, I'm screwing them all up and missing an important step

[faceonmars]

Dreams of having a lucid dream are quite common as I have read quite a few comments at this site and others about similar experiences. I believe you are on the right path. It can be a powerful spiritual experience so, when it does happen you, will not question it. You will just know it. To this day I wake from a LD feeling gleeful and alive.

[higgins]

Yes, I believe so. I had two lucid dreams some years ago. And I remember them being quite different. In both there was a very euphoric feeling and vibrant colors. I began floating in both and from what I have read this is very common. I guess the next time I am dreaming that I'm lucid dreaming, I need to really begin analyzing my physical state some more to try and "shake" off the dream aspect. I suppose there are some good techniques for this.

[higgins]

Still, I cannot seem to snap out of it. I've been practicing LD for 4 months now and numerous times I have either been told I'm dreaming by someone in the dream or I recognize the dreamlike quality and tell myself i'm dreaming. But I never become aware. Last night (in my dream) my wife stopped me in the street and looked at me and said "you are dreaming right now". It really doesn't get more obvious than that does it? But I simply looked around and thought it was a possibility then carried on with the dream. It seems like a hurdle I just can't get over.

[enak101]

I'd suggest a more reliable RC actually. Try pinching your nose and trying to breathe through it. It's known as one of the most reliable ones.

[LucidCorso]

Still, I cannot seem to snap out of it. I've been practicing LD for 4 months now and numerous times I have either been told I'm dreaming by someone in the dream or I recognize the dreamlike quality and tell myself i'm dreaming. But I never become aware. Last night (in my dream) my wife stopped me in the street and looked at me and said "you are dreaming right now". It really doesn't get more obvious than that does it? But I simply looked around and thought it was a possibility then carried on with the dream. It seems like a hurdle I just can't get over. Exactly what happens to me, so frustrating. But most of mine I say " I'm dreaming" to the dream characters and they dont really listen to so that just puts me back into to the dream, also when i say I am dreaming i always prove it to people by flying around but even that is not enough for me to become aware!

[higgins]

I've tried a few different RCs. I guess the key is to stick with a single one. In my experience looking at print or looking at my hands is not quite enough. Print doesn't always change or else my mind makes sense of its abstract-ness. Also, looking at my hands hasn't worked (sorry Don Juan because the blurriness of them in dreams is not very significant. The thing is that I like RCs that don't make me look insane in waking life. So jumping around trying to fly or blowing through my nose is not an option as I like to perform RCs all day long. So my latest one is trying to jab my fingers through the palm of my other hand - you can do this one w/o anyone really noticing. Haven't done it in a dream yet so we'll see how it holds up.